Chapter 9: Chapter 9

He couldn’t really believe it. The entire bet was meant to go the other way around. How could he be the one with feelings? The first step to getting rid of a problem was to accept it. Yes he had accepted that the tingly feeling he got from her was because somehow, along the way he had acquired feelings for the girl.

Kelly Blinch.

Weird Kelly as she liked to call herself.

That brought a smile to his lips.

When he realized he was smiling, he tried to force the feelings away.

They had nothing in common. Yes they had bonded, but how did the feelings come to fruition? They had done nothing romantic of the sort. And to make matters worse, she only had eyes for Chad. Opposites really attract.

He had been the one going on and on about movie logic. And here he was, Jason Angle, the lady killer to fall at the hands of movie logic. Seemed like those Hollywood directors knew what they were writing about. Who knew? Certainly not him.

Now, he was determined more than ever to steer her away from the direction of Chad. He wouldn’t let Chad ruin her.

And that was why he was at Chad’s house this time around. Not playing a game. Chad was in the kitchen trying to make them brunch. Despite all his faults and shortcomings, he knew how to prepare a good brunch.

“So, how are things between you and Kelly?” he never beat around he bush for anyone, and he wouldn’t sat with Chad who knew him so well.

“Good” he grinned. “Really good” he turned to Jason. “She is quite interesting and quite good to look at especially after her whole makeover. I never knew I could do that to a girl”.

He wanted to say that the change was because of him like a petulant child. He was the reason for her entire transformation, not Chad. But Chad did have a role to play, but she had stated she wouldn’t change for anyone. The change was to find her true self. And that she did.

“How are things on your side? I’m sure that it’s not going quite well” the blonde said knowing. He even laughed after he said that.

“It’s going well actually” he stated. He had wanted to say that they had kissed, something Chad hadn’t done. That was suspicious. What was he playing at? “We hang out a lot, and I have to agree with you that she is very interesting” he said unaffected by the stare he was being gifted by Chad.

“Have you seen how flexible she is?” he teased.

Chad dropped his spoon. He stared astonished at him for a while, before turning away with a look on his face. His smile wasn’t as confident as earlier.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that she wants someone else, and not the esteemed lady killer Jason Angle. She wants….”

“Stop!” he said immediately. “You are really unfortunate to have the worst acronym for a name. Don’t go around saying it anymore” he begged.

“Whatever. It still doesn’t change the fact that she wants me. You make girls in relationships turn their heads. This girl isn’t even in a relationship, so why can’t she fall for your charms?” he mocked.

“Because she isn’t like both of us” he informed dryly.

Chad quirked his brow in question. Then he shook his head and began to serve both of them.

“I want to call off the bet”.

Chad dropped his plate on the counter.

“Uh-what?”

He rolled his eyes tiredly. “You heard me. I said I want to call off the bet”.

“Why?” Chad looked to be very pleased with what he said. “Can the lady killer not get the plain Jane like he had said earlier?” he mocked.

“I can!” he snapped. “I just don’t want to anymore. She’s not worth any of this” he said somberly.

“Well, you were the one who accepted the bet. I wasn’t part of it” he pushed the occupied plate to Jason.

“What is that supposed the mean?” he had perplexed.

“It means what it means. You can back out and leave her alone. Better for me anyway” he smiled sitting down and biting into his French toast.

“You mean….you’ll still be with her? Why? That was just for the bet” he still couldn’t believe what he was implying.

“Yes it was” he agreed. “But like we both said, she is quite interesting. She is interested in me, and I would never deprive a lady of me, of my time” he winked.

“You don’t really like her” he said unsure, trying to get himself to believe that. “It was just bec-because of the bet” he stuttered. “There’s no way you’re interested in a girl like her” he almost raised his voice, but he couldn’t let anyone know, especially Chad, that he had some sort of feelings for her.

He would capitalize on that.

“Well what can I say, she grew on me. And I want to see how flexible she is” he leered.

He thought that of he cancelled the bet, everything would go to normal. Chad would never give a girl like her the time of day. It was just because of the bet. But things had changed.

Just like his feelings for her, and Chad’s intentions.

He groaned. “I take it back”.

“That’s my boy” Chad praised. “But I doubt that your pretty powers is going to work on this one” he said suddenly uninterested.

“I’m the lady killer for a reason” he really didn’t feel confident as he said that. What was he going to now?

Monday morning he was in the car and he was so nervous. It was a new feeling for him. He hadn’t been nervous before. Not even when he tried out for the track. So this was what it felt like? He didn’t like it. He wouldn’t want to experience it anymore.

He saw her running towards him, and he tried not to smile. There was no need for him to spook her and make things awkward between them. Not like he was going to tell her he liked her or anything. If he did, what would happen next?

Nothing.

Exactly.

She opened the door noisily as she always did.

“Morning” she said removing her clothes already.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed. “Not even a heads up?” he questioned turning forward before she could begin to throw accusations.

“Relax” she said casually. “I wore the clothes underneath today” she said removing her gown.

“Miniskirt” he stated. “Nice. Can we go now? I don’t want to step on the brake and have you flying to my windshield”.

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” she looked at him dryly.

“Why would I like you getting hurt?” he sounded too soft than he’d like.

“I forgot that you’re caring” she leaned closer, whispering into his ear. That had him flinching his head to the side.

Kelly didn’t notice. She got her phone out of her bag and began to text. She actually took a selfie and after that his car was filled with giggles.

As he parked, his car began to smell so flowery. So strong.

“What are you spraying in my car?!” he exclaimed.

“Perfume” she replied. “Can I keep it in here? I can’t carry this in case it breaks and pours”.

“Of course, do it. You didn’t ask if you could spray it in the first place” he grumbled.

“That’s why you’re my friend. See you after school. I might stay later than usual. I’m going by the track to cheer Chad on today”.

“For practice?” he questioned. He opened the door to get out and she did too. Girls did come by to cheer them on when they practice. It was stupid to him. It was practice and not the real thing. It was annoying and distracting.

He couldn’t believe that Kelly was that type of girl. He realized what he was thinking about right now. Why did what she did or the way she acted affect him right now?

“C-can I talk to you before that? Before practice?”

“Yeah sure” she smiled.

She began to walk away. They never did walk to class together even if they came together. He could count the times that they had walked in the halls together. It was only once. She was skipping. No doubt she was going to meet Chad.

His life was much simpler when stuff like feelings weren’t involved. Well, he would get to see her after school so that was something.

Just as she stepped into the class, she was pulled back by the top of her bag. She yelped in surprise as that happened.

Turning around it was Chad. She didn’t know if she should hug him or not. They had been talking, gone out on one date. That was it. So she didn’t really know where she stood in his life. They were just flirting. That was it. So if anything was to happen between them, it was up to Chad to tell her.

“Hey” she smiled at him. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“You want to have a heart attack? Just when I was enjoying you. We can’t have that now, can we?” his hand was round her shoulder right now. He smiled at her and she felt like she would melt.

“So are we still on for tonight?” he asked hopeful. And she knew why he was asking. She had bailed on him. And she knew hanging out with Jason all the time was questioning. She didn’t want to disappoint him anymore. The more she kept denying, the more future dates she would miss.

She needed him as her boyfriend and she needed him now.

“Of course we are” she assured him.

“Great” and he squeezed her shoulder as he parted.

She placed an arm on her warm shoulder. She wished for a split second that he might have squeezed somewhere else. And she didn’t feel bad about thinking that. She loved him and would give him anything that was within her power.

She walked into class proud. She didn’t bother to hide her smile, and she also didn’t care if anyone saw what had happened outside.

Jason had seen everything and he knew he had to stop what Chad was planning before it happened. The problem was the obstacle. And it wasn’t Chad Sterling. It was Kelly herself. He walked into class, and she didn’t look at him.

She was either ready for class, or she was having thoughts about Chad.

The smell of flowers was still strong in his nose. And as he sat down he took a sniff. The scent was actually from him.

Kelly knew she had to concentrate. But for the first time she couldn’t wait for school to be over. Good things were going to happen after class was over. So she had to focus all her concentration. A hundred and ten percent. Give her all and a little more.

The smile didn’t leave her face the entire time. She was sure even the teacher was uncomfortable.

When classes were over, she shoved everything into her bag carelessly. She would have dashed out, shoving everyone out of the way to get to her love, but again, just like in the morning she was pulled back.

She turned back to glare at Jason.

“Did you forget that we said we’d talk?” he asked her hoping she hadn’t really forgotten. Because yes he had been able concentrate, but he had been looking forward to the talk that they would have after classes.

“I did forget” she winced.

Jason managed only an eye roll.

“But….but” she tried to salvage it. She couldn’t stand in one place, her feet were restless and so was her body. She didn’t want to be in the class anymore. “You’re part of the track team, so we can go there together. And we can talk alone the way. What do you think of that?” she asked smug of her quick thinking.

“There’s still a whole twenty minutes before we meet up. Now you won’t even see Chad”.

She looked disappointed for a while. He didn’t know if it was because she’d have to spend more time with him, or because she didn’t know what Chad would be getting up to. She didn’t come off as the type that liked to overthink.

In the beginning she didn’t come off as the type of girl that would do certain type of thing, but he had proved her wrong.

He would have loved to have this conversation off school grounds, but he couldn’t. His spot wasn’t that far from the school, but any moment away from the guy she liked he was sure she would go crazy.

Kelly sat on one of the benches that served as decorations. “So what did you want to talk about?” she didn’t even hide that she checked her phone for the time.

He ignored that.

He sighed. He hadn’t really gone over how he wanted this to play out. And now he was frozen. The charismatic, handsome, athletic and the list goes on. Point was that he, Jason Angle, the lady killer was tongue-tied. Over a girl. He couldn’t believe it.

“Jason” she called irritated. “Was this just for us to look at each other?” she meant it as a joke, but it didn’t sound like one. She was just Kelly that way.

“Do you know the type of guy Chad is?” he began.

She looked at him warily. “Why are you asking that right now?” she asked instead of asking answering the question. “Seems a little bit too late to try and warn me against trying to be with him”.

He knew. She wasn’t even deterred at the beginning, so why now?

“I know you like him a lot but….”

“I love him. There’s a difference. If it was like, I wouldn’t do all this because it would have faded since sophomore year”.

“Do you know what love is?” he asked. She keeps going on and on about it. Chad was the first guy she liked and she was bound to confuse it. “Chad is just a guy in high school. When we’re done here, will you remember him when life starts for you?”

“Okay, what’s brining this up? You really liked helping me before today”.

“Well…..things change” even that did little to convince him.

“Yeah” she agreed, her lips curled in distaste. “And why are you talking about him like that right now. You know him, he’s your friend”.

“First off he’s not! Second, you deserve better than the likes of Chad Sterling” he said tersely. ‘And also me’.

“And pray tell, who’s better?” she stood from the bench. “You?” she questioned expectant.

“There’s no need to say that” he said like he couldn’t care less. And besides, what was wrong with her being with him? “I’m looking out for you as a friend” he argued.

“A little bit too late to try and steer me away. You didn’t voice any complaints in the beginning!” she was trying so very hard not to be mean.

“Better late than never you always say” he commented.

“You and Chad are kind of the same aren’t you?” she said softly, looking him in the eye.

“We are not the same!” he said harshly. “You are just too blinded by love to see straight. You tell me all my faults to my face, and what you hate about me. You claim that two of us are the same, so why is he good and I’m bad?” his voice lowered towards the end.

“Have you ever been in love before?” she asked after a brief pause.

He stared at her quietly. He took a hesitant step back to go over what he would say.

“Yes” he said softly. Truthfully.

“Okay then. Tell me what she’s like” she folded her arms, pursing her lips.

“Well, she’s pretty, smart, quite oblivious. She does piss me off most of the, annoys me a lot, but she’s cool to be with” he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “Getting to know her and vice versa was really the highlight of the relationship with her. I want to be the one there for her. To make her happy”.

Kelly was visibly unaffected.

She unfolded her arms, but her entire displeased demeanor didn’t change. She seemed really tense.

“And have you told her?” was all she said to his entire declaration. Well he didn’t say that she was the one. He was sure if he said weird, she would know instantly. But that would complicate things further. The entire conversation between them was complicated.

He had, but didn’t say her name. “No I haven’t”.

“Then you’re in no position to tell what to do concerning my feelings about Chad. A coward who can’t tell the girl he loves he loves her, can’t tell me what to do. You don’t know what love is Jason, because if that was what you truly felt, you wouldn’t waste a second keeping it to yourself. But you can’t put aside your ego and reputation”. “Lady Killer” she added.

He groaned.

“No matter what you choose to call it, it’s not love”.

“And you are such an expert” she said caustic, then moved to get her bag and sling it over her shoulder in an attempt to storm off, but he blocked her.

“Since we’re saying truths, then I should say some as well. I’m a coward, but I’m not a hypocrite. The very thing you said you hated, the girls showing off their bodies, shameless, everyone fornicating. Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

“H-how is t- you know….” She didn’t even complete her sentence. She made to walk past him, but again he blocked her.

“You said it yourself. I was the embodiment of everything you hate, you were taught to hate me. Everyone in high school is not good enough for you, but you made exceptions. You call it living your life by doing what everyone else is doing. Just because it’s you that’s doing it doesn’t make it all better” he ranted.

Kelly just glared, her lips quivering.

“You said it yourself, fornication is what people who are married do. You aren’t married to Chad. It won’t change a damn thing. You would be fornicating no matter how much you try to color it. You said you wouldn’t make the same mistake Adriana did, well I think I know how she began. What would your mum think if she saw you now?”. “What differentiates you from the girls who spreads their legs for us?”

Kelly opened her mouth in a silent gasp. “I see” she said with glistening eyes. “That’s how it is then”.

“Stop playing the victim” he muttered. “I gave just as well as I got”.

“Never come close to me” was all she said before she shoved past him. Pretty harsh.

Okay he hadn’t been expecting that. There was no way she meant it. They were friends, weren’t they? As a friend he had to tell her the truth.

“Kelly!” he yelled, but she didn’t turn. She didn’t reply. She acted like she couldn’t hear him. After recollecting his thoughts for a few seconds, he began his walk to the locker-room. He refused to feel guilty. She was always mean, but when he said things that weren’t even close to her level of mean she would get mad.

He wasn’t going to apologize.

Let her mull it over.

Kelly took the first seat so she could have a closer view of the track. No one else was sitting there, everyone that wanted to watch sat higher. She didn’t know the reason. She liked being front and centre, and she had a higher chance of Chad noticing her.

That thought had been able to cure her bad mood. She didn’t cry when Adriana left, so some asshole wouldn’t make her to start crying now. She sniffed and scratched her burning eyes. She had to remove her glasses. She only needed her glasses for reading. She saw things small, but her glasses made them bigger. She wouldn’t need it for this.

She sat there, refusing to think of what happened earlier. It was hard to do, but then she saw Chad. She cheered along with the rest. She made sure that she ignored Jason. Whatever friendship they had, it was over.

They were walking back now, and just like the way other girls flocked to the rails so they could get the attention of who they wanted, she got up doing the same. She leaned against the rail and watched as the runners walked back. Dripping with sweat and tired, ready to rest.

Her eyes glanced to Jason because how could it not, then they landed on Chad. They were some girls talking, calling out to him. That made her confidence disappear. Chad had to know them, had to be familiar with them, so he would go. She put her head down looking at her chest.

Chad waved to the girls calling for his attention, and looked to the girl he had business with.

“Hey Blinch” she raised her head instantly like she was a puppy.

“Hey Chad. Saw you out there, you were good” she commented.

“Thanks” he stood before her. Both of them sharing the same space. His arms resting on the rail, caging both her arms. “I do like to please my fans. You should come by here often”.

“So you were showing off for us?” she flirted. “Good to know”.

Chad observed her. They were having quite a staring contest. “I haven’t seen you face-to-face without glasses, aside from pictures. You have really pretty eyes. A nice blue grey”.

“Can I kiss you?” she blurted out.

“What?” Chad asked with wide eyes.

‘Oh God’ she thought in embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she had said that. But she could play it off as being spontaneous. She fought against every instinct to hide her face and looked him in the eye. “Can I?” she asked again.

“You are pretty bold aren’t you? But I’m sweaty” she said gesturing to himself.

“I don’t care” she whispered leaning closer, and their lips met. And it wasn’t a chaste kiss. Most people glanced, then went back to what they were doing.

Kelly surprisingly wasn’t shy at the attention that she might be getting. She had only dreamt of this moment and she really didn’t care who could see. She wondered if she’d still be weird Kelly after this.

They stopped kissing, but they didn’t pull away. Their faces were still together.

“Salty” was all she said. Trying not to cringe that she just said that.

“You’re a good kisser” Chad licked his lower lip.

“I try” she shrugged, but on the inside she was dancing.

“If you’re willing to wait a little more, I’ll be ready in about ten minutes and then we could hangout”.

“I’ll be waiting right here” she said giving him one last kiss before she went back to sit. Chad backed away, making her laugh the entire time before she could no longer see him.

Jason had seen it all. How she blatantly ignored him. And how she had kissed Chad without a care in the world. Was it just him, or was it a coincidence that she just had to kiss Chad after they had both argued. Was she trying to prove something to him?

He had also watched Chad get ready quickly, douse himself in cologne and then run out. He didn’t even glance his way. He had tried. He had told her. He could only hope that she would make the right choice before anything that couldn’t be undone could happen.

He had texted her. To see if he was going to drop her, but it seemed Chad would be the one dropping her today. Experience was the best teacher. He didn’t want anything bad to happen, but she was just so hotheaded.

He got into his car that still had that flowery scent. It was weird not seeing her in the backseat. He reached back and picked her perfume. He took a little sniff, before he put it in the glove box. That made him smile.

They’d meet tomorrow.

Chad had taken her to watch the sunset. He had gotten both of them nice snacks and she really couldn’t be happier. In the same car as Chad, eating the same snacks as Chad, and watching the sunset with Chad.

She got bored of talking, and then she began to kiss him. It was pretty hard trying to maneuver herself into a more comfortable position. Chad had to push his chair back and she had to get over him. It wasn’t that roomy. Her legs were long, as were Chad’s. They weren’t small people, so she couldn’t straddle him without hurting herself. She was literally on him.

He stopped kissing, and she had to lean up a little. Well as much as she could.

“When you kissed me, was it because of Jason?” he asked.

She blinked. “Why would you think that?”

“W-well I know that the two of you are friendly. Today at practice, you didn’t even look at him. Did two of you fight….and now you’re looking for comfort?”

His tone was so unsure.

“No. Chad, I’ve always liked you” she did her best to hug him. “I thought you knew” she pressed her cheek against his face.

“Yeah I did” he said trying to brush off everything that happened. His voice was shaky. “I just needed confirmation”.

She didn’t believe him, but she would find out when the time came. “Can we go back to kissing?” she asked coyly.

“You knew you were so wild? I like this part of you” and he placed both hands on her lower back, pretty low before they continued to kiss.